![]() Most hikers find a quality 20-30 degree down sleeping bag or quilt to meet their needs for almost every night of the trip. Temperatures on the PCT can be anywhere between the teens to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, so no one sleeping bag is going to be perfect for every night. They’re 2 pounds or less per person including stakes, guylines, and stuff sacks, and you can use your trekking poles to set them up in freestanding mode (though they’re not required). ![]() The sewn-in-Seattle Tarptent Rainbow or its larger two-person version, the Double Rainbow, are a good balance of weight, price, and durability, mixing the light weight of a tarp with the coverage of a tent. Courtesy ShelterĪ good PCT shelter is lightweight, durable, easy to set up, keeps out bugs, and holds up to storms. Most packs of this weight aren’t waterproof, so I always use a pack liner (a trash compactor bag works well). They only weigh two pounds but are made of abrasion-resistant fabric-70-denier Robic ripstop nylon reinforced with 100-denier for the Gorilla, 100-denier Robic with 200-denier reinforcement for the Mariposa-that can handle a load, even a bear can and heavy food carries. I like the Gossamer Gear Gorilla or its bigger cousin, the Mariposa. A good pack should fit your body, ride well when loaded, and not rub or chafe when you’re on the move. Courtesy Backpackīuy this last: Once you know the volume and weight of your other gear, it’ll make your choices easier. Try to keep these major items below 2 pounds each. Here’s a solid list of easy-to-learn, thru-hiker-approved gear for your journey. Test your gear out on backpacking trips before starting a thru-hike. Walking day-after-day, month-after-month takes a toll on the body, and I find that carrying lightweight gear can help reduce the aches and pains associated with backpacking.īut lightweight gear (heck, any gear) is only useful so long as a thru-hiker knows how to use it in different conditions. I prefer lightweight and even ultralight gear when thru-hiking. Your gear choices will change depending on whether your goal is to hike fast, stay comfortable, take great photography, or see the trail in as many seasons as you can stand it out there. While many PCT hikers who set out on a thru-hike have a similar dream and goal in mind, everyone has a different way of getting there. But your choices also depend on your age, fitness level, and any health issues you may have. What gear you use depends on your skills and experience. There’s no such thing as the “perfect gear for the PCT”-only the perfect gear for you. Since you’re carrying the gear for much longer with a goal of hiking most of the day with less time in camp, thru-hiking gear tends to be smaller and lighter than most traditional backpacking gear. ![]() Some thru-hiking gear is the same stuff you would use backpacking, but some is a little different. On the other hand, gear that is just “good enough” for a short hike could rub you the wrong way when carried day-after-day and may even lead to injury. Pick it wisely, and you’ll have a friend who never lets you down. On a PCT thru-hike, you’ll be spending months with your gear. ![]() Start it instantly, complete it at your own pace, access it forever. Stop just dreaming about a thru-hike make it real! Our online Thru-Hiking 101 class covers everything you need to plan and finish the long-distance hike of your dreams. My pack below, minus the knife and lighter, can act as an MLC carry-on as as a single piece of luggage for world travel.Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! An ultralight, stove-free pack can easily double as a traveler's pack.Without a stove, you'll need a small water bottle, and that coffee will be cold. Starbucks Via packets are a great way to make yourself coffee in the morning.Keeping a quiver of small, inventive containers shaves weight on small items. Collect tiny, but solid containers for essentials.Use iodine pills in place of a water filter to shave off weight.Hot meals are an important part of a true backpacking experience, but a quick purpose-oriented solo trip into the backcountry becomes much simpler if you eliminate the cooking stove, pots and pans.These are the items where you really shave the weight. The key to an ultralight pack is the backpack itself, the tent, the sleeping bag and the sleeping pad.Here are some things I've learned about putting together an ultralight traveler/photographer backpack over the years.
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